Forest fires may in some places be necessary for renewal of vegetation - to make it suitable for some species of herbivore animals. Regular deliberate burning of heather is necessary to keep it suitable for sheep - and it keeps down other vegetation too. Flowery fields stay flowery only if they are regularly cut. Otherwise grass and - eventually - trees - take over. Then no more flowers.

And every gardener and farmer knows the importance of weeding.

We need not think of the botanical weeds - but the people hurt by losing important struggles must be helped to find new ways for themselves. The task may be formidable, but shying away from it may lead to disaster.